August 18, 2008	Monday	Sha'aban 15, 1429

KARACHI, Aug 17: The Jamaat-i-Islami took out a procession on Sunday to demand reduction in the skyrocketing prices of essential commodities, restoration of the deposed judges and to condemn the American intervention in the country’s affairs.

These demands were made in resolutions adopted at the rally addressed among others by JI leaders Syed Munawwar Hasan, Mohammad Hussain Mehnati, Asadullah Bhutto, and human rights activist Amna Masood Janjua.

The procession started at the mausoleum of the Quaid-i-Azam and marched up to Tibet Centre on M. A. Jinnah Road. The participants were holding party flags, banners and placards and chanting slogans against the US and in favour of an Islamic revolution.

They also demanded the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui from US detention, restoration of freedom to nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan and expressed solidarity with the missing persons.

Before concluding his speech, JI secretary-general Syed Munawwar Hasan took a pledge from the participants that they would respond when a call was given against the oppressive system and the United States intervention and for ushering in an Islamic revolution in the country.

The other resolutions adopted by the rally called for the immediate restoration of the deposed judges, an end to the military operation in Swat, Bajaur and Wana and to solve issues through negotiations, the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui and her children and accountability of those responsible for handing them over to the US.

The also said that President Pervez Musharraf should be impeached followed by his accountability, the city government’s “illegal” measures should be repealed forthwith and the money collected from the people be used for the benefit of the people instead of individuals’ projection.

The resolutions demanded that the deteriorating law and order situation and terrorism be curbed and those responsible for the assassination of ulema, political workers and leaders be arrested and punished so that peace could be restored to the city.

A resolution on Kashmir was also adopted, demanding that the government take notice of the ongoing repression by the Indian army of the unarmed people in occupied Kashmir and drew the attention of the world community and institutions towards the atrocities of the Indian army in held Kashmir.

The speakers said that in the name of the war against terrorism, our own people were being killed and the country was being pushed towards a civil war while the US forces were violating the boarders and bombing Bajaur Agency.

They urged the rulers not to play silent spectators, take serious notice of the flagrant violations of our territorial integrity and stop cooperating with the US government.